Coalition Launches to Address FGM/C as Massachusetts Ranks 12th Nationwide for Women At Risk
Posted On: 02-02-26
Worcester, MA — February 6, 2026 — More than 9,400 women and girls in Massachusetts are living with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) — a form of gender-based violence many residents don’t realize exists in the state. On Friday, February 6, community leaders, healthcare professionals, advocates and allies will gather in Worcester to launch the HOPE MA Coalition (Holistic Organized Partnerships to End FGM/C in Massachusetts),a new statewide effort aimed at strengthening survivor-centered care and preventing FGM/C across Massachusetts.
The invite-only event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET at Girls Inc. of Worcester, in recognition of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). The timing is intentional: to move beyond awareness and toward coordinated action at the state level.
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is internationally recognized as a human rights violation and a form of gender-based violence. Massachusetts ranks 12th nationwide for women and girls at risk of or living with FGM/C. Current estimates indicate that more than 9,400 women and girls in Massachusetts are living with FGM/C, with nearly 700 girls currently at risk.
The eventis designed for healthcare providers, social workers, community advocates, survivors and allies committed to ending FGM/C and strengthening survivor-centered systems of care across Massachusetts. Through community dialogue, collective learning, artistic performances, and collaborative activities, the event will introduce the coalition’s vision and lay the groundwork for sustained, cross-sector partnership. A networking lunch will provide additional opportunities for connection and collaboration.HOPE MA was established through a five-year grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds and is led by a collaborative project team that includes Sahiyo, the UMass Chan Medical School’s Collaborative in Health Equity, and The U.S. Network to End FGM/C. The coalition aims to unite healthcare, social services, law enforcement, public health and community-based organizations to address both the immediate needs of survivors and the long-term systemic changes required to prevent FGM/C statewide.
“For me, this work is deeply personal. As a survivor and an advocate, I know firsthand the profound impact FGM/C has. The launch of the HOPE MA Coalition is not just a policy event; it’s a monumental step toward building a Commonwealth where no girl has to endure this human rights violation and where every survivor has access to the holistic care they deserve. This is about transforming pain into power and ensuring systemic change.” ~ Mariya Taher, Survivor, Sahiyo Executive Director
“FGM/C is not just an issue that happens abroad; it is an urgent, domestic issue that impacts communities right here in the Commonwealth. Survivors in Massachusetts deserve to have comprehensive, holistic, and accessible care, and that is exactly what the HOPE MA Coalition intends to build through cross-sector collaboration and survivor-led systemic change.” ~ Caitlin LeMay, The U.S. End FGM/C Network Executive Director
“As a healthcare provider with nearly three decades of experience caring for women and girls impacted by FGM/C, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to provide care that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and rooted in trust. HOPE MA is more than a coalition — it is a call for Massachusetts to rise in unity, bridging sectors to center survivors’ voices and build lasting systems of healing and prevention. This is our opportunity to move beyond awareness into collective action that honors dignity, advances equity, uplifts and inspires future generations.” ~ Crista Johnson-Agbakwu, MD, MSc, FACOG, Collaborative in Health Equity at UMass Chan, Executive Director
Organizers say the coalition’s work will continue well beyond the launch, with plans to support survivor services, professional training, and policy-informed prevention efforts across the state.
Event Details
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Location: Girls Inc. of Worcester, 125 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01604
Attendance: Invite-only | Approximately 50 participants
Registration: https://bit.ly/HopeLaunchEvent
About Sahiyo
Founded in 2015, Sahiyo is an award-winning global advocacy collective dedicated to empowering Asian and other communities to end FGC and create positive social change. Through dialogue, education, and collaboration, Sahiyo works to support survivors, educate communities, and push for systemic change. While originally focused on South Asian communities, Sahiyo has since expanded its reach, incorporating diverse survivor voices and advocating for the end of FGC worldwide.
About The U.S. End FGM/C Network
The U.S. End FGM/C Network (“the Network”) is a collaborative group of over 200 survivors, civil society organizations, foundations, activists, policymakers, researchers, healthcare providers, and others committed to addressing female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the U.S. and globally. The Network’s mission is to eliminate FGM/C by connecting, supporting, elevating and advocating on behalf of and with diverse U.S. stakeholders engaged in prevention, education, and care.
About UMASS
The Collaborative in Health Equity (CHE) is a center at UMass Chan Medical School that is committed to centering the voices of marginalized communities to share best practices and enhance fully inclusive racial and gender equity within and across our institutions. The CHE aims to advance health equity across clinical care, research, education, and community engagement efforts, harnessing institution-wide and community-based resources to promote trust and inclusion while supporting the recruitment, retention, and promotion of those from communities with limited engagement (CLE) across learners, faculty, staff, and leadership.